The MTH 2 rail SD45 in SP paint just arrived. Thanks Beth from Public Delivery track. It's a handsome engine at first glance. Details look good.
I did notice that the trucks don't turn freely. I turned the engine over and noticed the trucks hit the back of the Atlas coupler boxes. I'll have to fix that.
I have not had a chance to test run her as one of our fridges just quit.
Here's just some quick pics:
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Nice looking loco Joe! The SD45 is my all time favorite loco too and I’d be in for some if Atlas does another run and offers a mid 1990’s SF version.
I can’t help but wonder though, the truck side frames on the SP this run don’t appear to be EMD Flexicoil trucks, unless I’m mistaken, which is quite often. 
They look more like GE hi-ad truck side frames, like C30-7’s have. All the other road names from this run do appear to have Flexicoil trucks.
@jgtrh62 posted:Nice looking loco Joe! The SD45 is my all time favorite loco too and I’d be in for some if Atlas does another run and offers a mid 1990’s SF version.
I can’t help but wonder though, the truck side frames on the SP this run don’t appear to be EMD Flexicoil trucks, unless I’m mistaken, which is quite often.
Rut Ro.
I'll have to look closer!
Hmmm, you're right It looks like just the SP has these sideframes.
Sometimes I hate learning. 
Maybe ask Atlas about that Joe. It could possibly be why the sideframes are rubbing against the coupler boxes? If it was an oversight, and I'm not saying it is, maybe they could send the Flexicoil sideframes?
just for the record, the large 3rail coupler tabs (on the trucks casting) are what's rubbing.
It's a problem that I've corrected before.
I have the same engine in the 3-rail configuration, The truck sideframes are wrong but it's not a deal breaker for me since the engine is still a good-looking engine. I also have the N&W one. I also want the Springfield Gilford one but i have to wait or let it pass since i was only able to afford 2 SD45s. I'm just glad they finally did an SD45 in the bloody nose scheme. Hopefully, they'll do the Original SP units (8800s,8900s and 9000s) in a future catalog.
@Engineer-Joe posted:just for the record, the large 3rail coupler tabs (on the trucks casting) are what's rubbing.
It's a problem that I've corrected before.
That's good to know, come to think of it I seem to recall having to do the same on one of my MTH locos some time ago, might have been my CN/IC C40-8W.
@Engineer-Joe posted:just for the record, the large 3rail coupler tabs (on the trucks casting) are what's rubbing.
It's a problem that I've corrected before.
The Atlas coupler box is, a bit bigger than the Kadee 743. That's probably why the truck coupler boss is hitting.
So, I had to either cut the Atlas coupler boxes or replace them with KDs. I couldn't even test run the engine as is.
The front coupler was already missing the knuckle spring and a replacement didn't work correctly.
I installed KD #743. They have hidden knuckle springs. I got the front done anyways. I had to walk away to regain some patience.
Cut the rear Atlas box to see if it worked, and it did!
I always oil the axles.
Now I notice there's at least one bent axle or wheel (in middle) pressed on crooked!
Sheesh. I'm upset.
Well... now she runs. I fixed axle. Wheel pressed on crooked and slightly damaged. Just wobbles a little now.
Smoke unit does not work. One step forward, .....
The reason I got tired of toys. I just keep trotting forward.
I'm still searching for info about the trucks side frames.
Here is a link to as as-delivered SD45:
https://s3.amazonaws.com/rrpa_...005%202010-12-25.JPG
Note the original "L-shaped" engineer's cab window. The SD40T-2 had the same window when delivered so I modified my Athearn bb version to match.
Probably going to need to cut the 3 rail coupler mounting loop off of it to make room for the coupler box.
With the wonky wheelset, call atlas and see if they can send you a new center axle if it wont run without a wobble. Easy swap with the 3-2 trucks, but past experience tells me to check the gauge of all 6 wheelsets.
As far as the sideframes go, I looked up the road number and its an ex-Conrail that was rebuilt into an SD40M-2 (now -3).
Does some part of that rebuild process rehab or change trucks? Only thing I can think of...
I have an MTH Premier Rio Grande SD45 from the last run before Atlas acquired the tooling. I use KD 743’s for all of my Premier engines. No modifications to the trucks are needed.
@Boilermaker1 posted:As far as the sideframes go, I looked up the road number and its an ex-Conrail that was rebuilt into an SD40M-2 (now -3).
Does some part of that rebuild process rehab or change trucks? Only thing I can think of...
I wouldn't think so boilermaker1, although I suppose anything's possible. Interestingly enough, SP also had a GE U33C numbered 8595, which has the previous version C-C truck used on GE's until the Dash 9 series.
I looked up this SP SD45 on Atlas's site and it does show it with EMD Flexicoil trucks.
I expected them to look like this (like in the pic above)
EJ,
I know from you videos you have 'every CSX diesel MTH ever made'; take a look at the sideframes MTH put under their Dash 8's from about 10 years ago and see how that compares with this SD45.
SZ
Yep!
Come on Atlas. Did you run out of grey paint? 
WTH
I wouldn't be too hard on Atlas. Yes, it's their name on it, but they are sorta at the mercy of whatever comes out of the "MTH Factory" [ or "ex-MTH Factory"] as I think this is -- I recognize that round gold "QC" sticker on the bottom from MTH production. Maybe it's even the same gal -- I think her entire job description reads [ in Chinese ] "Put little gold stickers on bottom of things"......
But look at the bright side: I think those Dash-8 sideframes are no longer in stock at MTH Parts. I would take those off and keep them in reserve for your Dash-8 fleet -- I'm serious. That's what I would do, even if I had to pay for the replacements.
SZ
@Steinzeit posted:I wouldn't be too hard on Atlas. Yes, it's their name on it, but they are sorta at the mercy of whatever comes out of the "MTH Factory" [ or "ex-MTH Factory"] as I think this is -- I recognize that round gold "QC" sticker on the bottom from MTH production. Maybe it's even the same gal -- I think her entire job description reads [ in Chinese ] "Put little gold stickers on bottom of things"......
But look at the bright side: I think those Dash-8 sideframes are no longer in stock at MTH Parts. I would take those off and keep them in reserve for your Dash-8 fleet -- I'm serious. That's what I would do, even if I had to pay for the replacements.
SZ
Definitely, and to add to this, in my experiences Atlas has always been excellent in addressing issues.
I had some Atlas roller bearing trucks on the stack cars crumble from zinc rot. I sent it to Atlas. Never heard back. I could have kept the axles for decoration at least.
Oh yeah, today the smoke unit works! 
@Chris3671 posted:I have the same engine in the 3-rail configuration, The truck sideframes are wrong but it's not a deal breaker for me since the engine is still a good-looking engine. I also have the N&W one.I also want the Springfield Gilford one but i have to wait or let it pass since i was only able to afford 2 SD45s. I'm just glad they finally did an SD45 in the bloody nose scheme. Hopefully, they'll do the Original SP units (8800s,8900s and 9000s) in a future catalog.
Chris, I wouldn’t be in a hurry to purchase the Guilford (Springfield Terminal) version if you care about the color being correct.
My 2-rail version arrived last week from Mr. Muffin’s, but I didn’t get a chance to open the box until today. What a disappointment it was to unwrap it only to see it painted in a medium gray color rather than the prototypically-correct charcoal (dark) gray.
MTH has offered a few different Guilford engines over the years, and they too, originally got the color wrong. The GP35’s and GP38-2’s were panted in the medium gray…but the GP40’s (most recent Guilford engines offered by MTH) were finally painted the correct dark gray.
The sad part is I specifically asked about the color in this thread here on the Forum last October when this run of SD45’s was announced. As you can see, Atlas themselves chimed in on the thread and confirmed it would be painted the same dark gray as the last run by MTH. I placed my pre-order based on that info from Atlas.
Everything else about the engine looks great, but it’s a real bummer it’s not the correct color.
@CNJ #1601 posted:Chris, I wouldn’t be in a hurry to purchase the Guilford (Springfield Terminal) version if you care about the color being correct.
My 2-rail version arrived last week from Mr. Muffin’s, but I didn’t get a chance to open the box until today. What a disappointment it was to unwrap it only to see it painted in a medium gray color rather than the prototypically-correct charcoal (dark) gray.
MTH has offered a few different Guilford engines over the years, and they too, originally got the color wrong. The GP35’s and GP38-2’s were panted in the medium gray…but the GP40’s (most recent Guilford engines offered by MTH) were finally painted the correct dark gray.
The sad part is I specifically asked about the color in this thread here on the Forum last October when this run of SD45’s was announced. As you can see, Atlas themselves chimed in on the thread and confirmed it would be painted the same dark gray as the last run by MTH. I placed my pre-order based on that info from Atlas.
Everything else about the engine looks great, but it’s a real bummer it’s not the correct color.
Do you have a picture of them? I don't mind the paint job to be honest but I understand. There are no pictures of them on the internet besides the stock photos.
@Engineer-Joe posted:So, I had to either cut the Atlas coupler boxes or replace them with KDs. I couldn't even test run the engine as is.
The front coupler was already missing the knuckle spring and a replacement didn't work correctly.
I installed KD #743. They have hidden knuckle springs. I got the front done anyways. I had to walk away to regain some patience.
Atlas and Muffin sold you that loco with that issue? You are right it would be pretty hard to test run. Apparently Atlas didn't test run it either. Yeeesh............... I've been dissapointed lately in Atlas. I had an E-8 non powered truck that the center axle would not even turn right out of the box, an Amfleet car with a bent truck sideframe, and traction tires on an unpowered E-8 loco? Why? It's like noone is watching what is going on. However, on an absolute plus side..........If Atlas doesn't answer the phone they always call back (at least in my experience) and they still have the best turnaround on repairs(again in my experience). Just wish they would pay more attention to whats coming from China. It's such a pain having to send stuff back.
@Chris3671 posted:Do you have a picture of them? I don't mind the paint job to be honest but I understand. There are no pictures of them on the internet besides the stock photos.
Chris, sorry it has taken me so long to respond to your post. I’ve been really busy since my Guilford/Springfield Terminal SD45 arrived from Mr. Muffin’s. I finally had a chance to take some photos last week.
I’m really happy with the level of detail on this model, but I’m still bummed that Atlas got the gray color wrong. It is a much lighter shade of gray than these photos depict no matter how many attempts I made to accurately capture the true color.
Here are a few shots of the new engine, followed by a few comparison photos vs. the last Guilford engine that MTH offered. Click on any photo to enlarge the image…
Here’s the MTH GP40 painted in the correct “charcoal gray” vs. the new Atlas (former MTH) SD45 painted in a much lighter shade of gray. The nose-to-nose shots do the best job of showing the difference. Again, the new Atlas model is a lighter gray than these photos depict…
Hopefully these photos will help you decide whether or not you want to track one of these engines down.
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